The Ravens didn’t just keep Joe Fagnano around. They turned down trade offers to do it.
That’s the clearest sign yet that Baltimore sees real upside in the undrafted rookie quarterback, who somehow carved out a spot on the 53-man roster as the team’s QB3 after entering the summer with everything working against him. He wasn’t even signed right after the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Ravens brought him in for a tryout, then added him on a non-guaranteed deal. For a while, he was just another camp arm trying to survive.
That changed in preseason.
By the time the games started, Fagnano had done enough to force his way into the conversation. On Wednesday, Eric DeCosta made it clear the interest in Fagnano went beyond Baltimore’s own building.
The Ravens got calls. They still chose to hold onto him.
“I honestly had trade offers for [Fagnano],” DeCosta said. “Maybe it’s just the fact that people want to trade for him, I’m like, ‘Maybe we should just keep him’ … We got a good young quarterback that we think has a chance. Coaches are excited about him, players are excited about him, we’ll just see what happens.”
That kind of language says a lot. Baltimore is not treating Fagnano like a roster afterthought.
This is a team that is willing to move late-round picks when it makes sense - as it did on cutdown weekend with C.J. Okoye and Diego Pounds - but it chose a different path here.
And the preseason numbers explain why.
Fagnano was one of the standout quarterbacks in the league during exhibition play, finishing 56-of-75 for 509 yards and three touchdowns while also scoring ერთხელ on the ground. He was sharp, efficient, and in control for most of the summer.
The one blemish came early, in the second quarter of his preseason debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he forced a cross-body throw into the end zone and it turned into an interception. After that, the mistakes basically stopped.
For a quarterback who was trying to prove he belonged, that mattered. Baltimore saw enough growth to make keeping him the safer play than trying to sneak him through waivers.
Of course, none of this guarantees anything once the real games begin. Preseason stars flame out all the time, and regular-season football has a way of exposing everybody.
But the Ravens clearly believe Fagnano has more than a camp highlight reel. He’s their QB3 now, and maybe more importantly, he’s a young quarterback they’re not eager to let go.
In Other News...
Ravens Depth Shakeup Could Force A Tough Roster Decision
The Ravens added a pair of familiar depth pieces to their practice squad on Thursday, signing offensive tackle A.J. Arcuri and tight end Nick Vannett as they continue to shore up two spots that can get thin fast over the course of a season. For Baltimore, the appeal is straightforward: both players bring experience, and both give the team more insulation behind the active roster at positions where injuries and game-day wear can quickly change the picture.
Veteran lineman Chuma Edoga is also expected to join the practice squad after a successful workout, though that move is still waiting on a roster decision to open a spot. The extra addition gives the Ravens another seasoned option in the mix, but it also means someone has to come off to make it work, adding a small but real layer of intrigue to what looked like a routine depth move. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Owner Makes A Baltimore Move Fans Will Truly Appreciate
Steve Bisciotti and the Bisciotti Family Foundation are putting a significant new stake into one of Baltimores most important pipelines, expanding the Ozzie Newsome Scholars program with a $3 million commitment for Baltimore City Public Schools graduates who enroll at Morgan State University. The program is designed to help students bridge the gap from high school to college completion, with support tied to Pell Grant eligibility, graduation from a Baltimore City public school and participation in the CollegeBound Foundations College Completion Program.
The funding will back 40 new scholars over eight years, with as much as $75,000 available per student, a move that ties the Ravens owner even more closely to the city beyond the field. It also deepens the reach of a program named for a Baltimore football icon, giving the next wave of students a clearer path while reinforcing a partnership between the university, the foundation and the city schools that will matter for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Fans Got Two Encouraging Hints About Lamar And Madubuike
Eric DeCosta left the first stretch of training camp and preseason with a couple of reasons for Ravens fans to feel better about the months ahead. The general manager said he is optimistic about new head coach Jesse Minter after seeing the team get through its early work, and he also sounded confident about the bigger picture around Lamar Jackson, saying he feels good about getting a long-term extension done even if the process is not simple.
There was similarly encouraging news on the defensive side, where Nnamdi Madubuike continues to progress well in his recovery from a neck injury. DeCosta suggested the veteran tackle may be back in the mix sooner than initially expected, which would be a welcome development for a defense that wants its interior presence settled before the season takes on real urgency. [Read more 🡒]